The Silverbacks visit the Vernon Vipers tonight at 7 p.m. for the first meeting since November, and the first of back-to-back meetings as the 'Backs will host the Vipers tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Shaw Centre as part of Hockey Day in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks have lost their last three games and are coming off of a 1-0 shutout to the league-leading Vees in Penticton on Wednesday. The Vipers meanwhile, have won their last two after a 5-1 victory over the Centennials in Merritt on Saturday and a 4-3 win versus the Cents in Vernon on Wednesday.
The Vipers lead the season series with the 'Backs 2-1-1-0, beginning with a 3-2 win in Vernon on Friday October 10th, before the Silverbacks responded by edging the Vipers 2-1 at the Shaw Centre on Friday, November 7th. The team's played to a 3-3 tie on Saturday, November 8th in Vernon and the Vipers took the lead in the series with a come from behind 7-5 victory on Friday, November 28th in Salmon Arm.
The Vipers have outscored the Silverbacks 14-12 in the four games and Vernon has scored the third most goals in the BCHL with 177 in 45 games, compared to the 'Backs 148 goals in 46 games which is the third fewest in the league. The Vipers have only allowed 128 goals, the second lowest in the BCHL while the Silverbacks have allowed 148 which is the seventh lowest in the league.
The Vipers have three players in the top 20 in the BCHL scoring race, as Liam Coughlin is eighth overall with 19 goals and 37 assists in 44 games, Liam Finaly is 11th with 22 goals and 32 assists in 42 games and Thomas Aldworth is 16th with 35 goals and 16 assists in 44 games.
Andrew Farny leads the Silverbacks and is the highest scoring defenseman at 28th overall with 14 goals and 32 assists in 46 games, while Taro Hirose has 16 goals and 28 assists in 46 games and is ranked 32nd.
Vipers goalies Jarrod Schamerhorn and Danny Todosychuk are ranked fifth and sixth respectively, in the BCHL. Schamerhorn is 20-10-1 in 35 games with 3 shutouts, a 2.72 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Todosychuk is 10-4-0 in 14 games with 3 shutouts, a 2.74 goals against average and .905 save percentage. While, the 'Backs Angus Redmond is right behind them in the seventh spot, at 15-20-2 in 38 games with 3 shutouts, a 2.87 goals against average and .906 save percentage.
The Silverbacks power-play is 11th in the BCHL with 36 power-play goals, and 4-for-15 in the four games versus the Vipers. While, the Vipers are 12th overall with the man-advantage, have 38 power-play goals and are 3-for-12 against the 'Backs in the season series thus far. The Silverbacks penalty-kill is ranked 10th and is 9-for-12 versus the Vipers, Vernon is fourth in the BCHL on the penalty-kill and 11-for-15 against the 'Backs.
The Silverbacks are 19-19-3-5 with 46 points in 46 games and are in fifth place in the Interior Division. The 'Backs are four points behind both the West Kelowna Warriors and the Merritt Centennials who are tied for third, but the Cents have two more victories than the Warriors. The Silverbacks have one game in hand on the Warriors, while the Centennials have one game in hand on the 'Backs. The Silverbacks are 13 points ahead of the Trail Smoke Eaters who are in sixth place.
The Vipers are 30-12-1-2 with 63 points in 45 games and are second place in the Interior Division. The Vipers are 12 points behind the first place Penticton Vees with one game in hand on the Vees, and 13 points clear of the Centennials and Warriors with two games in hand on West Kelowna.
The Silverbacks will host the Vipers tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Shaw Centre as part of Hockey Day in Salmon Arm. As well as, two more regular season meetings remain at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 13th in Vernon and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 21st in Salmon Arm.
